Electrically heated drying machine



Feb. 28, 1933. w. w. SIBSON ET AL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRYING MACHINE- Filed larch 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Shem l INVgZNTOR: J/1 aZZerJMSzbs02z,-& 702222 144173222225 WITNESSES f %M 60 Feb/ 28, 1933. w 's ETAL 1,899,593

ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRYING MACHINE 2 Filed March 4, 1930 -2 Sheets-Sheet '2 FIG. E

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Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER W. SIBSON AND JOHN W. DENNIS, OF YHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AB- SIGNOBS TO THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING IMIACTHINFRY COMPANY, OF PHILA- Emma, PENNSYLVANIA, A-OORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTBICALLY HEATED. DRYING MACHINE Application filed March 4, 1930. Serial No. 483,015.

This invention relates to drying machines and, more particularly, to a type comprising means for progressing electrically heated devices serving to dry moisture laden articles.

The present improvements have for a general object the provision of a drying machine including an automatically operated rotary table sustaining a sequence of electrically heated forms adapted to dry and shape articles of wearing apparel such as hosiery, for example.

Fundamentally the present improvements involve the provision of a machine, of the kind referred to, including a rotary table supporting a. series of electrically heated forms with means conducting current to said forms incident to rotation of such table.

Other ob'ects and advantages of this invention wil appear in the course of the following specification, wherein said invention is explained in concrete form for pu oses of illustration, while the novelty thereo resides in certain features of construction, as Well as the combinations and arrangements of parts, thereafter claimed.

In the drawings, forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the respective views.

Fig. I is a top plan view of a drying machine embodying the present improvements.

Fig. II is an elevation of the same, with the upper portions of the drying forms removed for ease in illustration.

Fig. III is a sectional view, on a larger scale, taken as indicated by the arrows III- III in Fi I; and,

Fig. I. is a further enlarged detail vle'w hereinafter fully described.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, we construct a housing of standard sections 5 and suitable sheet material 6 to provide an opentopped circular enclosure, in which is a basal framework, conveniently of opposing channel sections 7, that afford rigid support for a gear box 8, and a source of power such as an electric motor 9.

- The gear box 8 provides pedestal bearing for a vertically directed shaft 10, havinga worm wheel 11 thereon, which latter gears into a worm drive 12, on a transverse shaft 13,

suitably journaled in the gear box 8'; while said transverse shaft 13 is co-ordinated with the motor 9 by a silent chain-drive 14, in an obvious manner. The gear box 8 is fitted with a cover 15 having integral upwardlydirected inwardly-converging le s16, terminating in an upper bearing 17 or the shaft 10, as well as affording rigid stationary support for an annular conductor ring 18, conveniently secured thereto against relative movement by a set screw 19, or otherwise.

To the upper end of the vertical shaft 10 we secure an appropriate crown-member or platen 20 that supports, and to which is securely attached, the rotary table 21. This rotary table 21 is conveniently, although not essentially, made of insulating material, and it is positioned to revolve in an opening 22 in the cover piece or top 23 of the above referred to circular housing.

Proximate the periphery of the rotary table 21, and projecting .therebelow, we locate a series of spaced sockets 24, afi'ording swivel support for the stems 25 of electrically-heated drying forms 26, the current conductor wires 27 whereof, for the purpose of our invention, are terminated in conventional push-in plugs 28, for a purpose later on explained.

To the underside of the rotary table 21,

and injuxtapo'sition to each of the aforesaid s0ckets 24, we mount an associated current transmitter or brush device com rehensively deslgnated 29 in Figs. I to II and illustrated to better advantage in Fig. IV. Re-

ferring to the latter view, it is to be observed that each current transmitter or brush device 29 comprises a main portion 30 for attach ment to the underside of the rotary table 21, as by suitable fastening means 31; said member embodying a coaxial tubular extensionv 32 serving as a conduit for current conducting leads 33,34 from the plug-in coupler-35 suitably secured in a counter-bore at t e low er end of said extension. Fitting the tubular extension 32 are a pair of flanged sleeves 36,

37, with an intervening spacer 38, all of insulating material, the same being retained in alignment against rotation through the medium of a clamping collar or nut 39 screwthreaded on the outer end of said extension, in an obvious manner.

The flanged sleeves 36, 37, afi'ord frictional support for metal collars or brush holdcrs 5 40, 41 respectively, and as both of said holders are alike, the following detailed explanation will be limited to one. in order to avoid repetitive description. Each holder 40, 41 embodies a lateral projection 42 bored to receive the shank 43 of a fork 44 that afiords free rotative bearing for a brush roller 45;

said shank and roller being normally projected outwards under the action-"of a buffer spring 46; while the shank 43 is prevented from rotation by a pin and slot connection 47, in an obvious manner. Incidentally it is to be remarked that the aforesaid conducting leads 33, 34 terminate in plugs 48, 49 respectively frictionally fitting the bore of the 0 associated projection 42.

The brush rollers 45 respectively co-act with, or engage, spaced conductor strips 50, 51, suitably bedded in insulating material bands 52, appropriately secured circumferentially around the hereinbefore referred to annular ring 18, in a manner obvious to those acquainted with the electrical arts.

Electric current is furnished, from any convenient source, to the motor 9 and conductor ring 18 by way of a suitable switch box 53, having a'conduit 54 for service wires to said motor. Leading from the switch box 53, also, is a second conduit 55 for positive and negative leads 56, 57, -Fig. 111- respectively, or vice versa, to terminals 58, 59 connected to the conductor strips 50, 51, above referred to. Obviously by withdrawing any one of the push-in plugs 28 the associated form 26 ma be electricallydisconnected and removed or repair or otherwise when desired or requisite.

For convenience of the stripper operator the cover piece or top 23 is laterally extended to provide a table 60-Fig. I and II, for reception of the dried articles; and, in addition thereto a ortion of said table is, convenientl fitte with a pan or tank 61 in which t e wet articles to be applied on the forms 26 may be temporarily placed by the boarding operator.

From the foregoing description it is thought the operation of our improved electric drying machine will beclearly apparent without detailed explanation herein. It may be briefly stated, however, that when power is supplied to the motor 9, the table 21 will be rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow on Fig. I, at a convenient speed, so that hosiery for example placed upon the successive forms 26 at a would be dry and ready for removal upon arrival at b; it being obvious that the heater elements in said forms will be of a character to effect the necessary degree of drying. Further- 65 more, by imparting an intermittent motion to the rotary table 21, for the continuous motion specified, the forms 26 may be brought to rest for a period of time, in thecase of articles requiring a longer drying period.

Finally, it is evident that various changes might be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several com.-

.ponent parts, of our novel electrically heated drying machine, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention; hence we do not wish to limit ourselves strictly to the embodiment hercinbefore set forth.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. In a drying machine including a rotary table, a sequence-of electrically-heated individually-removable drying forms pivotallysocketed in the table, an enclosure above which the table is rotatable; means imparting motion to the table housed in the enclosure; a stationary current conductor in said enclosure. and co-active brush devices carried by the table, serving to close electric circuits through the respective drying forms incident to rotation of said table. i

,2. In an electrically-heated drying machine. including a rotary table, a casing below the table, a sequence of drier forms swivellingly-socketed in the..table, means imparting motion to the table, a stationary member below the table having separate conductors of differing polarity, and brush devices co-active with said conductors in closing an electric circuit through the respective drier forms.

3. In an electrically heated drying machine, including a rotary table, a subjacent casing, a sequence of drier forms reinovably pivoted in the table, means for imparting motion to the table mounted in the casing, a stationary annulus below the table with spaced circumferential conductors of differing polarity, and brush devices co-operative with said conductors having separable connection to associated drier forms for closing electric circuits therethrough.

4. In an electrically heated drying machine, including a rotary table, a casing below the table, a sequence of drier forms swivellingly-socketed in the table, means for imparting motion to the table within the easing, a stationary annulus below the table with spaced circumferential conductors of diifering polarity, said conductors being insulated from the annular member, and an individual brush device co-opera'tive with each conductor having joint connection to an associated drier form for closing serial circuits through the several drier forms.

5. In an electrically heated drying machine including a rotary table, an open top casing having the upper edge co-planar with the table top, a sequence of pivotally mounted drier forms removably-carried by the table, means housed within the casing for imparting motion to the table, a stationary annular member below the table having spaced circumferential conductive bands of difierin polarity, said bands bein insulated from the annular member, and a rush device associated with each drier form having contacts engaging the respective bands aforesaid, whereby electric circuits are closed through the several forms collectively when the machine is in operation.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein each brush device comprises a support having relatively insulated contact means for individual co-action with the current conductive means.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein each brush device com rises a supporting member including a tu ular section, spaced contact holders supported by said section with interposition of suitable insulation, and conductors in said extension from the respective contact holders to a common coupler at the free end thereof. 1

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein ice comprises a supportin member including a tubular section, spaced holders, each having an apertured projection, jointly supported by the extension with in- 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein each brush device comprises a supporting member including a tubular section, spaced holders, each having an apertured projection, jointly supported by the extension with interposition of suitable insulation, an outwardly influenced non-rotative contact in each projection, and conductor leads from n testimony whereof, we havehereunto signed our names at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 26th day of February, 1930.

WALTER W. SIBSON. JOHN W. DENNIS. 

